Labor gears up for key governors races

Organized labor is betting big in Virginia and New Jersey, where two critical off-year gubernatorial races are taking place in November.

In New Jersey, where Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine trails Republican Chris Christie in the polls, the AFL-CIO earlier this month unveiled a web site slamming Christie for promoting an “economic agenda threatens the middle class.” The New Jersey Laborers’ Union, another Corzine backer, is set to open an on-the-ground offensive that will include assistance from affiliates in other states as well.

Last week, the AFL-CIO launched its first major salvo in Virginia, organizing an all-day canvass in support of Deeds in Northern Virginia, Norfolk, Richmond and Roanoke, featuring workers armed with talking points slamming Republican Bob McDonnell for supporting “the rejection of $125 million in federal assistance for Virginia’s unemployed workers.”

For labor, it’s an all-out, no-holds-barred effort in both states aimed at pushing Corzine and Deeds over the finish line.

“There is a lot of attention being placed on these races,” said Larry Scanlon, political director for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. “I’ll tell you how big a deal they are: We’re already committing at least $2 million to New Jersey and have already spent $1 million in Virginia.”

“Obviously labor has to be concerned about what the future holds,” said Joyce Powell, president of the New Jersey Education Association, an organization which saw as many as 1,000 of its members lose jobs last year.

While a host of interest groups from all over the political spectrum are expected to pour money into the two marquee races of 2009, none are expected to play as big a role as organized labor, which is determined to keep the governorships in Democratic hands.

“You can certainly make the case here that the stakes are higher now for labor than at any point in the last 10 years, maybe even longer than that,” said Steve Jarding, a veteran Virginia-based Democratic strategist. “I suspect you’ll see a pretty strong presence.”

With the redrawing of congressional and legislative lines looming on the horizon — exercises that will help determine partisan control in Congress and in state capitals — redistricting, particularly in Virginia, weighs heavily into labor’s calculus.

“I think the stakes are high for the simple reason that the next governor will be in charge of redistricting,” said Jim Leaman, president of the Virginia AFL-CIO.

But economic uncertainties are a major factor in the equation, as well as a desire to work with governors who are perceived as friendlier to labor’s statehouse-level agenda.

“Governors are employers of workers that we represent,” noted Scanlon. “So we have an employer-employee relationship that we need with elected [officials] that needs to be nurtured and advanced through political action.”

“With a Deeds administration, you have an open door to discuss concerns,” said Charles Smith, director and general counsel of Virginia AFSCME. “I think Creigh will have a much better outlook.”

In New Jersey, so far, labor leaders have found that the problem isn’t simply a matter of persuading the general electorate that Corzine deserves a second term — they have to convince their own membership, as well.